Subject: The Linux info sheet
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 91 09:06:54 +0100
From: blum@cip-s01.informatik.rwth-aachen.de (Robert Blum)
To: linux-activists@joker.cs.hut.fi
Hi Linuxers!
Following is the first official version of a Linux info sheet. If you like
it, I'd suggest posting this thing to:
comp.os.misc
comp.os.mach
comp.os.minix
comp.os.coherent
comp.os.sysv.i386
comp.unix.programmers
comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Comments and suggestions are welcome.
Ciao,
Robert
LINUX INFORMATION SHEET
1. WHAT IS LINUX 0.11
LINUX 0.11 is a freely distributable UNIX clone. It is almost
fully System V compatible. LINUX has been written from scratch, and
therefore does not contain any AT&T or MINIX code--not in the kernel,
the compiler, the utilities, or the libraries. For this reason it can
be made available with the complete source code via anonymous FTP.
Sorrily, it runs only on 386/486 AT-bus-machines. EISA will probably do
too, but you need an AT-Bus controller for your harddisk.
Version 0.11 is still a beta release, but it provides almost full
functionality. Various users have been able to compile bigger projects
like bison/flex by only changing the makefile to their needs, and these
tools are fully functional.
2. LINUX features
- System call compatible with V7 of the UNIX operating system
- Full multiprogramming (multiple programs can run at once)
- Memory paging with copy-on-write
- Demand loading of executables
- Page sharing of executables
- ANSI compliant C compiler (gcc)
- A complete set of compiler writing tools
(bison as yacc-replacement, flex as lex replacement)
- The gnu-born again shell (bash)
- Micro emacs
- most utilities you need for development
(cat, cp, kermit, ls, make, etc.)
- Over 200 library procedures (atoi, fork, malloc, read, stdio, etc.)
- Currently 3 national keyboards: finnish/us/german
- Full source code (in C) for the OS is freely distributable
- Full source code of the tools can be gotten from many anonymous ftp sites
(It's almost completel the GNU project)
- Runs in protected mode on 386 and above
- Support for extended memory up to 16M on 386 and above
- RS-232 serial line support with terminal emulation, kermit, zmodem, etc.
- Supports the real time clock
3. HARDWARE REQUIRED
- A 386 or 486 machine that is an AT-bus-machine. EISA will probably do
too.
- An IDE hard disk is required to use this system.
- Both 5.25" and 3.5" diskettes are supported
- At least 2 megabytes of RAM is required for LINUX to be operational,
but gcc will only work from 4 MB on.
- Any video card will do
- Up to two serial lines are supported
- The real time clock is supported
4. PARTIAL LIST OF UTILITIES INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE FOR LINUX 0.10
- The MTOOLS package (reading/writing to DOS)
- The complete GNU filetools (ls,cat,cp,mv,...)
- The GNU C compiler with GNU assembler,linker,ar,...
- bison
- flex
- rcs
- pmake (BSD 4.2 make)
- kermit
- Micro emacs
- less
- mkfs
- fsck
- mount/umount
5. LINUX BINARIES
The LINUX binaries (including all the tools) are available at three
anonymous FTP sites. These are:
nic.funet.fi:/pub/OS/Linux
tsx-11.mit.edu
tupac-amaru.informatik.rwth-aachen.de:/pub/msdos/replace
6. LEGAL STATUS OF LINUX
Although LINUX is supplied with the complete source code, it is
copyrighted software. But it is, opposite to MINIX available for free,
provided you obey to the rules specified in the LINUX copyright.
7. NEWS ABOUT LINUX
Since LINUX's introduction to the public there has been a rapidly
growing mailing list, "linux-activists@joker.cs.hut.fi". To subscribe
to this list, mail to "linux-activists-requests@joker.cs.hut.fi". If
the traffic in this lists increases further, there are plans to swap
(at least partially) over to comp.os.misc, so watch out for any LINUX
articles in this group. If you simply want to know whats the current
state of the art, do a "finger torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.fi", and you'll
get some information.
8. FUTURE PLANS
The major current project is bringing LINUX to a version number
greater than 1.0. It has also to undergo some (minor) revisions to be
compatible to the IEEE POSIX P1003.1 and P1003.2 standards. Various
people are currently working on
- math support/fp emulation in the kernel
- Page swapping (since paging is alreay implemented)
- A virtual filesystem layer
- STREAMS
If you want to join the developers, join the mailing list
Subject: New posting of INFO SHEET
Date: Fri, 13 Dec 91 10:28:00 +0100
From: blum@cip-s01.informatik.rwth-aachen.de (Robert Blum)
To: linux-activists@joker.cs.hut.fi
Hi Linuxers!
This is the corrected (Thanks for proofreading, tytso!) Linux
information sheet. If there are no further remarks to it, I will
post it to the following groups:
comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
comp.os.coherent
comp.os.mach
comp.os.minix
comp.os.misc
comp.os.sysv.i386
comp.unix.programmers
Thanks, and see you!
Robert Blum
LINUX INFORMATION SHEET
1. WHAT IS LINUX 0.11
LINUX 0.11 is a freely distributable UNIX clone. It is almost fully
System V and POSIX compatible. LINUX has been written from scratch,
and therefore does not contain any AT&T or MINIX code - not in the
kernel, the compiler, the utilities, or the libraries. For this reason
it can be made available with the complete source code via anonymous
FTP. Sorrily it runs only on 386/486 AT-bus-machines.EISA will probably
do too, but you need an AT-Bus controller for your harddisk.
Version 0.11 is still a beta release, but it provides almost full
functionality. Various users have been able to compile bigger projects
like bison/flex by only changing the makefile to their needs, and these
tools are fully functional.
2. LINUX features
- System call compatible with System V and POSIX (well, almost..)
- Full multiprogramming (multiple programs can run at once)
- Memory paging with copy-on-write
- Demand loading of executables
- Page sharing of executables
- ANSI compliant C compiler (gcc)
- A complete set of compiler writing tools
(bison as yacc-replacement, flex as lex replacement)
- The gnu-born again shell (bash)
- Micro emacs
- most utilities you need for development
(cat, cp, kermit, ls, make, etc.)
- Over 200 library procedures (atoi, fork, malloc, read, stdio, etc.)
- Currently 4 national keyboards: finnish/us/german/french
- Full source code (in C) for the OS is freely distributable
- Full source code of the tools can be gotten from many anonymous ftp sites
(It's almost completely the GNU project)
- Runs in protected mode on 386 and above
- Support for extended memory up to 16M on 386 and above
- RS-232 serial line support with terminal emulation, kermit, zmodem, etc.
- Supports the real time clock
3. HARDWARE REQUIRED
- A 386 or 486 machine that is an AT-bus-machine. EISA will probably do
too.
- An IDE hard disk is required to use this system.
- Both 5.25" and 3.5" diskettes are supported
- At least 2 megabytes of RAM is required for LINUX to be operational,
but gcc will only work from 4 MB on.
- Any video card will do
- Up to two serial lines are supported
- The real time clock is supported
4. PARTIAL LIST OF UTILITIES INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE FOR LINUX 0.10
- The MTOOLS package (reading/writing to DOS)
- The complete GNU filetools (ls,cat,cp,mv,...)
- The GNU C compiler with GNU assembler,linker,ar,...
- bison
- flex
- rcs
- pmake (BSD 4.3 Reno/BSD 4.4 make)
- kermit
- Micro emacs
- less
- mkfs
- fsck
- mount/umount
5. LINUX BINARIES
The LINUX binaries (including all the tools) are available at three
anonymous FTP sites. These are:
nic.funet.fi:/pub/OS/Linux
tsx-11.mit.edu:/pub/linux
tupac-amaru.informatik.rwth-aachen.de:/pub/msdos/replace
6. LEGAL STATUS OF LINUX
Although LINUX is supplied with the complete source code, it is
copyrighted software. But it is, opposite to MINIX available for free,
provided you obey to the rules specified in the LINUX copyright.
7. NEWS ABOUT LINUX
Since LINUX's introduction to the public there has been a rapidly
growing mailing list, "linux-activists@joker.cs.hut.fi". To subscribe
to this list, mail to "linux-activists-requests@joker.cs.hut.fi". If
the traffic in this lists increases further, there are plans to swap
(at least partially) over to comp.os.misc, so watch out for any LINUX
articles in this group. If you simply want to know whats the current
state of the art, do a "finger torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.fi", and you'll
get some information.
8. FUTURE PLANS
The major current project is bringing LINUX to a version number
greater than 1.0. It has also to undergo some (minor) revisions to be
compatible to the IEEE POSIX P1003.1 and P1003.2 standards. Various
people are currently working on
- math support/fp emulation in the kernel
- Page swapping (since paging is alreay implemented)
- A virtual filesystem layer
- STREAMS
- POSIX job control (this is already alpha and will probably be
out with Version 0.12)
If you want to join the developers, join the mailing list
Subject: And another version of the INFO sheet
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 91 07:34:10 +0100
From: blum@cip-s01.informatik.rwth-aachen.de (Robert Blum)
To: linux-activists@joker.cs.hut.fi
Hi Linuxers!
Here is the re-edited version of the Linux info sheet.
Thank you for all your replies, especially to the guy who sent me the
diff. (Sorry, forgot your name)
The list of groups it will be posted to has changed to:
comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
comp.os.coherent
comp.os.mach
comp.os.minix
comp.os.misc
comp.unix.sysv386
comp.unix.programmers
gnu.misc.discuss
If you haven't any further additions or corrections, I'll send out the
INFO sheet thursday, the 26th of december.
Have a merry Xmas!
Robert Blum
LINUX INFORMATION SHEET
(last updated 19 Dec 1991)
1. WHAT IS LINUX 0.11
LINUX 0.11 is a freely distributable UNIX clone. It implements a
subset of System V and POSIX functionality. LINUX has been written
from scratch, and therefore does not contain any AT&T or MINIX
code--not in the kernel, the compiler, the utilities, or the libraries.
For this reason it can be made available with the complete source code
via anonymous FTP. LINUX runs only on 386/486 AT-bus machines; porting
to non-Intel architectures is likely to be difficult, as the kernel
makes extensive use of 386 memory management and task primitives.
Version 0.11 is still a beta release, but it already provides much
of the functionality of a System V.3 kernel. For example, various
users have been able to port programs such as bison/flex without having
to modify code at all. Another indication of its maturity is that
it is now possible to do LINUX kernel development using LINUX itself
and freely-available programming tools.
2. LINUX features
- System call compatible with a subset of System V and POSIX
- Full multiprogramming (multiple programs can run at once)
- Memory paging with copy-on-write
- Demand loading of executables
- Page sharing of executables
- ANSI compliant C compiler (gcc)
- A complete set of compiler writing tools
(bison as yacc-replacement, flex as lex replacement)
- The GNU 'Bourne again' shell (bash)
- Micro emacs
- most utilities you need for development
(cat, cp, kermit, ls, make, etc.)
- Over 200 library procedures (atoi, fork, malloc, read, stdio, etc.)
- Currently 4 national keyboards: Finnish/US/German/French
- Full source code (in C) for the OS is freely distributable
- Full source code of the tools can be gotten from many anonymous ftp sites
(Almost the entire suite of GNU programs has been ported to Linux.)
- Runs in protected mode on 386 and above
- Support for extended memory up to 16M on 386 and above
- RS-232 serial line support with terminal emulation, kermit, zmodem, etc.
- Supports the real time clock
3. HARDWARE REQUIRED
- A 386 or 486 machine with an AT-bus. (EISA will probably work, also,
but you will need an AT-bus hard disk controller.)
Both DX and SX processors will work.
- A hard disk implementing the standard AT hard disk interface--
for example, an IDE drive. SCSI drives are not supported yet.
- A high-density disk drive--either 5.25" (1.2MB) or 3.5" (1.44MB).
- At least 2 megabytes of RAM. (LINUX will boot in 2 Mb. To use
gcc at least 4 MB are required.)
- Any video card of the following: Hercules,CGA,EGA,VGA
In addition, LINUX supports
- Up to two serial lines
- A real time clock
4. PARTIAL LIST OF UTILITIES INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE FOR LINUX 0.11
- The MTOOLS package (reading/writing to DOS filesystems)
- The complete GNU filetools (ls, cat, cp, mv, ...)
- The GNU C compiler with GNU assembler, linker, ar, ...
- bison
- flex
- rcs
- pmake (BSD 4.3 Reno/BSD 4.4 make)
- kermit
- Micro emacs
- less
- mkfs
- fsck
- mount/umount
5. LINUX BINARIES
The LINUX binaries and sources are available at three
anonymous FTP sites. These are:
nic.funet.fi:/pub/OS/Linux
tsx-11.mit.edu:/pub/linux
tupac-amaru.informatik.rwth-aachen.de:/pub/msdos/replace
6. LEGAL STATUS OF LINUX
Although LINUX is supplied with the complete source code, it is
copyrighted software. Unlike MINIX, however, it is available for free,
provided you obey to the rules specified in the LINUX copyright.
7. NEWS ABOUT LINUX
Since LINUX's introduction to the public there has been a rapidly
growing mailing list, "linux-activists@niksula.hut.fi". To subscribe to
this list, mail to "linux-activists-requests@niksula.hut.fi". If the
traffic in this lists increases further, there are plans to swap ( at
least partially ) over to comp.os.misc, so watch out for any LINUX
articles in this group. For the current status of LINUX, do "finger
torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.fi".
8. FUTURE PLANS
Work is underway on LINUX version 1.0, which will close some of the
gaps in the present implementation. Various people are currently working
on:
- Math support/fp emulation in the kernel
- Page swapping (since paging is already implemented)
- A virtual filesystem layer
- STREAMS
- POSIX job control (This is already alpha and will probably be
out with Version 0.12.)
- init/getty/login
- symbolic links
- Interprocess communication
- IEEE POSIX P1003.1 / P1003.2 compatibility
- SCSI support
If you want to help, join the mailing list.